Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government, Elections & Information Technology Committee

ESSB 5729

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Description: Concerning making nonsubstantive changes to statutes affecting legislative technology administration.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on State Government (originally sponsored by Senators Liias, Miloscia and Kuderer; by request of Joint Legislative Systems Committee).

Brief Summary of Engrossed Substitute Bill

  • Renames the Legislative Service Center the Office of Legislative Technology Solutions and changes the Legislative Service Center coordinator to the legislative technology director.

  • Renames the committees that oversee and manage legislative information processing and communications systems.

Hearing Date: 3/17/17

Staff: Joan Elgee (786-7106).

Background:

The Joint Legislative Systems Committee (Systems Committee) oversees the direction of information processing and communications systems of the Legislature and enforces policies, procedures, and standards. The Systems Committee consists of four members from each of the two largest caucuses of the House of Representatives and Senate. The Joint Legislative Systems Administrative Committee (Administrative Committee) manages the information processing and communications systems. The Administrative Committee consists of the Secretary of the Senate and another Senate staff person, the Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives and one other House staff person, and the Code Reviser, who serves in a nonvoting capacity.

The Administrative Committee must establish a legislative service center (LSC) and employ a legislative systems coordinator who serves as the head of the LSC. The LSC provides automatic data processing services, equipment, training, and support to the Legislature and legislative agencies.

Summary of Bill:

The LSC is renamed the Office of Legislative Technology Solutions and the coordinator is changed to the Legislative Technology Director.

The Joint Legislative Systems Committee is renamed the Joint Legislative Technology Committee and the Joint Legislative Systems Administrative Committee is renamed the Joint Legislative Technology Committee.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.